Sounds of Learning

What Are Your Thoughts? Pinkerton and Sharpless present two completely different characters. Pinkerton thinks of himself more and Sharpless is compassionate. Both are Americans living in Japan. What does it mean to be an American? Which one of these men show those American qualities more? Why do you think Sharpless didn't do more to prevent the marriage or to make Butterfly realize from the start that the marriage was only temporary? Log your thoughts below by clicking on the "Post a Comment" link below. You don't need to register and can click the Anonymous button, but please include your first name and the school you attend. Thanks!

Welcome to Opera Online! We continue our look at Giacomo Puccini's tragic Madama Butterfly , the first opera in our Sounds of Learning program for the 2009-2010 Season. In our Clip of the Week , we'll skip to the last act of the opera to hear a gorgeous trio and Pinkerton's remorseful aria, Addio fiorito asil. These clips are taken from a film interpretation starring the famous tenor Plá cido Domingo as Lt. Pinkerton with German mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig as Suzuki and American baritone Robert Kerns as Sharpless. In the opera at this point, Pinkerton has returned to Japan and has brought his new American wife Kate. They stop by Butterfly's home with the consul, Sharpless. After seeing the how Butterfly has decorated the home for his return, he finally realizes how real Butterfly thought the marriage was. He is filled with remorse and runs out of the home. For the complete text to the scene, see page 32 of the Sounds of Learning guide. Just so you know, the v...

Welcome to Opera Online! We continue our look at Giacomo Puccini's tragic Madama Butterfly , the first opera in our Sounds of Learning program for the 2009-2010 Season. In our Clip of the Week , we'll take a look at Cio-Cio San's aria, Un bel dì, one of the most famous arias ever written. We'll compare two videos. The first is from the theatrical film version of the opera that we've already seen excerpts from with Chinese soprano Ying Huang as Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly). The second is a television performance by the legendary soprano Renata Tebaldi who was well known for her performances as the geisha. In the opera at this point, Pinkerton returned to America three years ago, but has promised to come back to Butterfly. She dreams of the day that her husband will return to her. Butterfly clings to this belief with all her life. She tells her maid Suzuki what will happen on the day her husband returns - from seeing the smoke from his ship and the cannon s...

Welcome to Opera Online! We continue our look at Giacomo Puccini's tragic Madama Butterfly , the first opera in our Sounds of Learning program for the 2009-2010 Season. In our Clip of the Week , we'll see another excerpt from a theatrical film version of the opera that we saw last week. Chinese soprano Ying Huang as Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly) and tenor Richard Troxell as Lieutenant Pinkerton. Butterfly's uncle, a Buddhist monk, interrupts Butterfly's wedding to Pinkerton and tells her family that she has converted to Christianity. Her family scorns and rejects her. Pinkerton orders the family to leave. Pinkerton is the only family Butterfly has now. In this scene Butterfly and Pinkerton have just been married. They are alone and declare their love for each other. Before you watch this clip, you'll want to read pages 16-19 in the Sounds of Learning student guide. Our Website of the week is that of internationally renowned ceramic artist Jun Kaneko . If you...

Welcome to Opera Online! This week we start our look at Giacomo Puccini's tragic Madama Butterfly , the first opera in our Sounds of Learning program for the 2009-2010 Season. In our Clip of the Week , we'll see an excerpt from a theatrical film version of the opera which stars Chinese soprano Ying Huang as Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly) and tenor Richard Troxell (who happens to live in New Jersey) as Lieutenant Pinkerton. The mariage broker Goro enters to tell Pinkerton and his friend Sharpless that Madame Butterfly has arrived for her wedding to Pinkerton. The two have never met and they fall in love instantly. There are several other moments from the first act shown in this clip that are well worth viewing. Before you watch this clip, you'll want to read pages 16-19 in the Sounds of Learning student guide. Our Website of the week is that of Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho . Ermonela will sing the role of Cio-Cio San in our production of Madama Butterfly . Opera on th...